If You Can
by William J. Bernstein
A sixteen-page booklet for young people: save fifteen percent, buy three index funds, rebalance, and avoid the five hurdles (spending, not understanding finance, ignoring history, your own psychology, the finance industry). Bernstein assigns a reading list for each hurdle. It is the shortest complete financial education available.
Read it if…
you want the entire plan in one sitting and a reading list for the rest.
Skip it if…
you want depth in one volume; this points to other books.
Three things you will actually use
- Fifteen percent, three funds, rebalance yearly.
- Learn enough finance to not be sold to.
- Know your own psychology; it is the main risk.
Do this first
Read it tonight; it takes thirty minutes. Then set up the fifteen percent automatic transfer.
Our verdict
Tiny and complete; the thirty-minute financial education.
Compare with other Money books
The Latte Factor
David Bach and John David Mann · Money
Simple and friendly; a starter story.
CLICK TO SEE
The Science of Getting Rich
Wallace D. Wattles · Money
A curious, compact antique with one hard-headed principle hiding inside.
CLICK TO SEE
Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
T. Harv Eker · Money
A useful mirror and a shallow map; take the diagnosis, verify the prescription.
CLICK TO SEEBrowse all Money book reviews or get the free Reality Code Cheat Sheet.
As an Amazon Associate, WisdomDeck earns from qualifying purchases. Links marked “Click to see” go to Amazon. We are not paid for opinions, prices and availability are not shown here and change on Amazon, and we never see your purchase details. Nothing here is medical, legal or financial advice.